A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University
of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Okaukuejo 1993 / This study was designed to investigate the eco-physiology of
baboons (Papio cynocephalus ursinus) in a troop living in the
Kuiseb River canyon of
the central Namib desert, Namibia.
Answers were sought for two major questions: what Were the
baboons prospects for survival and were there special adaptations
allowing for their survival in their desert environment? To
answer the former, life history phenomena of individuals and
demographic changes within the troop were studied over a six year
period. Results showed that the troop was not self-sustaining.
Ectco-parasite infestations killed the majority of infants born to
high ranking female baboons, while infant kidnapping by high
ranking females killed most lower ranking females' infants. The
high infant mortality appeared to affect the behaviour of adult
male baboons in the troop, causing non-paternal males to fight
harder to maintain a rank with reproductive opportunities,
usually with serious wounding or death as a consequence. Answers
to the latter question involved investigation into the baboons
feeding patterns and diet, body temperature regulation, water
flux rates and methods of body water conservation. Despite their
desert environment, the baboons had access to plants of high
water content and Were not dependent on free water intake. Plant
foods also had low electrolyte concentrations. Body temparetures
of three free-ranging baboons recorded by intraperitoneal radio
tolemeters were remarkably labile, indicating an adaptive
heterothermy. The baboons appeared to employ evaporative cooling
only when water was available to drink and used cool sub-surface
sand to slow their body temperature rises. water flux rates
determined using tritiated water of three free-ranging baboons
were not different to those of baboons from elsewhere.
Acquisition of free water at times of water scarcity was strictly
rank related. Body water conservation was apparently achieved
through a combination of factors: urine concentration of Kuiseb
baboons increased significantly when they were water deprived.
The kidneys of the Kuiseb baboons, obtained from baboons that
died naturally were anatomically significantly different and
head greater urine concentrating abilities than the kidneys Of
baboons from the northern Transvaal, South Africa. Kuiseb
baboons showed efficient faecal water conservation, similar to
other desert adapted mammals, Body water also was apparently
conserved by engaging in water conservative behaviour,
predominantly inactivity.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/20897 |
| Date | 18 August 2016 |
| Creators | Brain, Conrad |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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